Uranium deposits of Brazil

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry

OSTI ID:102815

Brazil is a country of vast natural resources, including numerous uranium deposits. In support of the country`s nuclear power program, Brazil has developed the most active uranium industry in South America. Brazil has one operating reactor (Angra 1, a 626-MWe PWR), and two under construction. The country`s economic challenges have slowed the progress of its nuclear program. At present, the Pocos de Caldas district is the only active uranium production. In 1990, the Cercado open-pit mine produced approximately 45 metric tons (MT) U{sub 3}O{sub 8} (100 thousand pounds). Brazil`s state-owned uranium production and processing company, Uranio do Brasil, announced it has decided to begin shifting its production from the high-cost and nearly depleted deposits at Pocos de Caldas, to lower-cost reserves at Lagoa Real. Production at Lagoa Real is schedules to begin by 1993. In addition to these two districts, Brazil has many other known uranium deposits, and as a whole, it is estimated that Brazil has over 275,000 MT U{sub 3}O{sub 8} (600 million pounds U{sub 3}O{sub 8}) in reserves.

• OSTI ID: 102815
• Journal Information: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry, Journal Name: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry Journal Issue: 277; ISSN 0742-4582; ISSN NUEXD3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
BRAZIL
GEOLOGY
MAPS
PRODUCTION
URANIUM DEPOSITS
URANIUM RESERVES